THOR HENRY RAMSING, former naval officer, competitive ocean racer and entrepreneur, died after a
brief illness on February 13, 2010, at home in Palm Beach, Florida. He was 90 years old. Mr.
Ramsing was also a longtime resident of Greenwich, and Edgartown, Massachussetts. He received a
bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Oklahoma before joining the U.S. Navy in
1940. During World War II, he served as executive officer on USS PT-9, gunnery officer on the USS
Stevenson and turret officer on the battleship USS New York. While based in New London, CT, the Lt.
Commander served on the staff of three successive admirals as operations officer, Staff Commander
Submarines, Atlantic fleet. After the war,Mr. Ramsing joined Chase Manhattan Bank in Manhattan as
an account executive and established an investment counseling practice two years later. He was
concurrently a management trainee at The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. While there hefounded
International Records Co. to purchase and distribute at store checkouts recordings of major
symphonies, making classical music available at a budget price. In the fifties Mr. Ramsing founded
Trident Oil Corporation, engaged in petroleum production, and Trident Marine Products, importer and
distributor. Mr. Ramsing then purchased the Allied Boat Company, and supervised the design of the
Seabreeze and Seawind, affordable family sailboats. Mr. Ramsing's passion for sailing and ocean
racing spanned more than fifty years. On his five yachts named Solution and under the flags of
Indian Harbor Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club (NYYC) and Edgartown Yacht Club, he completed
countless off-shore and ocean races, among them Newport to Bermuda (seventeen times); Bermuda to
Copenhagen; Bermuda to Spain; the Fastnet; and Monaco to New York. Major victories included the
Southern Ocean Racing Circuit championship and the NYYC Astor Cup and Una Cup. Mr. Ramsing was also
a member of three America's Cup Syndicates. He served as commodore of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club
and Storm Trysail Club and was a trustee of the NYYC. Other club memberships included the Edgartown
Yacht Club and Reading Roomon Martha's Vineyard; the Off Soundings Club, MA; the Royal Ocean Racing
Club, London; the Cruising Club of America; the Racquet & Tennis, Links and River clubs in
Manhattan; the Belle Haven Club in Greenwich; and the Bath & Tennis and Everglades clubs in Palm
Beach. Mr. Ramsing's philanthropic interests benefited many charitable organizations, and he served
on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club of New York; International Oceanographic Foundation; Joffrey
Ballet; Just One Break; Greenwich Riding &Trails Association; National Art Museum of Sport; Perry
Institute for Marine Science; South Street Seaport; and YMCA of Greenwich. Born September 16, 1919,
in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he was the son of Thor Utke and Neilsine Knudsen Ramsing. He was
predeceased by his brothers Donald U. and Byron Lee Ramsing, and a sister, Jeanne R. Wold. His
spouse of 62 years, Martha Wrightson Ramsing, died in 2004. He is survived by four daughters:
Martha R. Zoubek, of Greenwich; Cynthia R. McGinnes, of Chestertown, MD; Elizabeth R. Palmgren of
Charlottesville, VA; and Karen Ramsing-Bixler of Kennett Square, PA; three grandchildren: Rollyn Z.
Bornhorst, Christopher Zoubek and Krista Palmgren; and five great-grandchildren. A celebration of
life reception for family and friends will be held on April 29th, 4 to 6 p.m., at the Bath & Tennis
Club in Palm Beach; and at the Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich on June 17th, 4-6 p.m.
Donations ma
y be made to the African Wildlife Foundation, 1400 Sixteenth St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, or
the Wrightson-Ramsing Foundation, 125 Worth Ave., Palm Beach, FL 33480.